Millikin University's School of Music is pleased to announce Chris Raymond (bassoon), senior instrumental music performance major from Bourbonnais, Ill., the winner of the 2015 Hollis Prize Competition Recital.

Held on March 21 in Kaeuper Hall, Perkinson Music Center, the Hollis Prize Recital featured performances from Millikin University's top three music performing students, including: Abigail Karnes (soprano), junior vocal performance major with a theatre minor from Kearney, Mo., and Chloe Raffe (soprano), junior vocal performance major from Des Plaines, Ill.

The Hollis Prize is the highest award that may be received by a student instrumentalist or vocalist within the Millikin School of Music. First awarded in spring 2003, Millikin is one of only a few schools in the country to offer this type of prestigious prize through a music competition.

"I am beyond words for how humbled and honored I am for receiving the Hollis Prize," said Raymond. "From the day I was selected as a finalist I already felt like a winner, and because Abagail Karnes and Chloe Raffe are spectacular musicians, it has made the past few weeks quite exciting."

The winner of the Hollis Prize was chosen by outside faculty judges and received a $2000 award; runners-up each received $500.

In recognition of this achievement, Raymond will perform a recital on Sunday, April 26, at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Ill., beginning at 2 p.m.

"The Hollis recital was a marvelous event with all three students giving excellent performances," said Dr. Stephen Widenhofer, director of Millikin University's School of Music. "Chris Raymond will represent the School of Music well as the Hollis Prize winner and at the Chicagoland concert in Elgin."

Raymond added, "Winning the Hollis Prize was a long-term goal of mine that I had set my eyes on since my freshman year at Millikin. From the moment I walked offstage at the Hollis finals until now, I have been reflecting on my past performance, appreciating the good things that happened and deciding what parts of my playing could have gone better. I am excited to perform again because I want to continue working and give an even better performance."

The Hollis Prize Recital is generously funded by Dr. C. Kimm Hollis, a 1972 Millikin graduate, and professor of music and artist in residence at Hanover College in Hanover, Ind.

Artist Spotlight: Christopher RaymondMiranda Little , Staff WriterOctober 16, 2013Junior Christopher Raymond has a passion for music. He picked up the Bassoon at the age of 13, after originally starting on the Oboe in beginning band. Chris also played the Tenor Saxophone in high school in order to take part in marching band. Here at Millikin, Chris plays Bassoon in the Millikin Wind Ensemble, Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, and the Eidolan Woodwind Quintet. In the past year, Chris has greatly made his name known. Not only did he win the 2012-2013 Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra Concerto-Aria competition, but he was also a finalist in Millikin’s Hollis Prize competition, which came with a $500 cash prize. Away from Millikin, Chris plays in the Urbana Pops Orchestra in Urbana, Il, and has been the principal bassoonist for the past two years. Recently, Chris has been asked to play with the South Shore Orchestra out of Valparaiso, Ind. on tour in China. The trip will take place over winter break, and he will travel through eight different Chinese cities and play with the orchestra in seven of them. “By the time this trip is over, I will have performed in more concerts in major Chinese cities than American cities,” Raymond said. Chris has many favorite parts of performing, in both ensembles and solos he achieves his goal of musical excellence. As a member of an ensemble, he becomes one small, yet important, piece of the puzzle. The bassoon is somewhat of a rarity in the musical world. To Chris, playing the bassoon as a soloist is sharing his passion with the audience. He says, “In my head, it is as if I am trying to convince the audience through my music that the bassoon is the coolest thing in the world!” When he graduates, he plans to further his studies of the bassoon in graduate school. He dreams of being a bassoon professor by day and a performer by night.